Concert III 

The concert will open with a celebration of Black History month, featuring the beautiful work “Poem” for orchestra by American composer William Grant Still. Still’s wife, Verna Arvey, described the Poem as ‘inspired by the concept of a world being reborn spiritually after a period of darkness and desolation.” Our current world situation seems to require our attention to a composer like Still, and seek to find common ground during these challenging times. The Still is followed by Schubert’s magnificent “Unfinished Symphony”, which was also performed during the symphony’s first season 20 years ago. One of the stars of today’s violin world is a former Symphony of the Hills’ violinist and soloist, Ms. Nancy Zhou. Ms. Zhou is now a multi-award-winning concert violinist with a stellar career. During the early years of the symphony, Nancy performed solos and played with the orchestra, including many times with her father, Symphony of the Hills longtime concertmaster Long Zhou. Nancy returns to Kerrville as a musical homecoming to play one of the great works of the 20^th century, the violin concerto of Samuel Barber. If we play our cards right, Nancy may bring home an encore that will bring down the house.

William Grant Still – Poem for Orchestra

Schubert – Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished”

Barber – Violin Concerto
   Nancy Zhou, violin solo

Gene Dowdy, Conductor

Conductor’s Letter coming soon